Peanut butter



Patented Dec.

UNITED ST TES P TENTfoFFieE.

' 1101mm) w. nown, or mnoxrl irrssissrrm.

' PEANUT BUTTER.

2N0 Drawing.

to break down the cell structure, thereby lib' crating the oil. The cell walls are composed chiefly of cellulose, protein and starch and these materials are reduced to the state of a Y powder. The latter mixed with the oil forms a paste. Due to its dryness, peanut butter in this form sticks or clogs to the mouth. I

My invention has for its primary object the control or the elimination 0t the above rei'erred-to tendency of the paste to sticker clog to the mouth, and this may be acc01n-' plished by incorporating powdered material 20 in the peanut butter. 31y invention is based upon the property which finely divided material possesses of dissolving very rapidly in the saliva of the mouth. By very finely powdering the clogging reducing agent, its area is 5 greatly increased and there' present an enormous surface for the saliva to act upon, great ly hastening the solution of the agent. As the clogging reducing agent is uniformly distributed throughout the peanut butter numer ous avenues of attack for the saliva are, pm sented, and in this connection it may be stated that the clogging reducing agent is more soluble in the salivathan the peanut butter itself.

'lheret'ore, it goes into solution first and in do-v 35 ing so eti'ects a much more rapid cmulsxfi-cation or dispersion ofthe peanut butter in the saliva than has heretofore been POSSlblt, whereby the clogging propcrtyof thepeanut butter is reduced and it becomes more 'palatableand desirable;

It has long been known that peanut butter has a tendency to clog or stick tothe root of the 1 mouth. When I first experimently attacked the problem of producing a peanut butter which did not possess this disadvantage, I

initially tried sugar in its ordinary'granulated form. r This, I ascertained, did-not sue-- effect the desired result. It is only when it -is finely ground that its area is enormously imam... filed December 1927. Serial a... 238,237.

increased and as'a direct result thereof, it

quickly goes into solution in the saliva. It is' I clear. that whethera substance will act as a clogging reducing agent depends on itsp'ropcrty of rapidly going into solution in the saliva of the mouth or, stated differently, on its solubility. 'lherefore, my invention resides broadly in incorporating in peanut but ter a clogging reducing agent which rapidly goes mto solution into the saliva. In the pre ferred and more specific form of m invention .l contemplate the incorporation in peanut butter of a' clogging reducing agent-in very finely powdered form. The reduction of the clogging reducing agent to such a form may be accomplished by mechanical means or by crystallization from dilute solutions or by any means known in theprio'rart. t

after having "succeeded in 'redueing the clogging properties of peanut. butter by the use of. finely dividedfsugar, I continued my experiments and discovered that many soluble organic and inorganic compounds act as clogging reducing agents ,JWhBDtliflY are in such a form as 'will'ra pidly go into solution in thesaliva; 'Compounds in a granulated form, comparable to granulatedsugar, have littlejetl'ect on reducing cloggin Itiis only when tlmyaro in such form as will enable them to go rapidly.into solution in the saliva plished by finely grinding.

I shall hereafter refer in detail'to the various compounds that-maybe used to reduce c ogging; l-Iowever, at this point Ishall speciticallyillust'rate niv inventionby the use of that they are-elt'ective, and this may be aeeomfinely divided sugari' 4 Y l'arious sugars, such is-sucrose," dextrose, maltose, levulose and lactose or mixtures ofthe-same,- may be "added to the peanut butter toreduce this tendenc'yto stick to the mouth. 1

Further, syrups [such 'as cane syrup, malt syrup, sorghumjsyrup. eornsyru and maple S \'IUP',1YI3 y be use:1.-. Syrups oft iis-character a re driedla'nd"powdered before they are incorporated in tlie-peanut butter. I prefer to use dextrose as this'p'art-icular sugar "dissolves very rapidly in the saliva, has a low sweetening power and is readily obtainedrlnthe pure form. as it isnot desired to produce a con- 'lection, dextrose-is particularlysuitable on I account of the above referred-to low sweetening power. The amount-of sugar tobe added to the peanut butter will depend upon the physical and chemical chariwteristics "of the peanuts,sugar and, the degree of fineness of peanut butter to stick tothe mouth. I

In my experiments, I have used varying percentages of sugar but find thatthe' most satisfactory results are obtained by adding between 5% and 30% of sugar to the peanutbut- -ter, the finished product containing between 953-1 and of peanut butter. Satisfactory results have been obtained-by using 10% of powdered sugar, this amount reducing the tendency to clog, to a very great extent. Peanut butter containing 20% of powdered sugar has been found'to give very satisfactory results. As indicated, the percentage of sugar to he added will vary, according to the'physical and chemical properties of the peanut but ter and the sugar. \Vhile I do not desire to be limited to theaddition ot' any specific percentage of sugar, usually it will not be found necessary to add over 30",. ot"powdered sugar.

The degree to which the sugar is powdered may, of course, vary but good results have been obtained using powdered sugar commercially known as XXXX. Better resultsare obtained when using XXXXXX sugar. It is not desired'to helimited to the-addition of any specific degree of fineness other than to state that granulated sugar,v as ordinarily commercially produced, is-..not satisfactory and must be ground:orpulverized before it is used. In general, it may be stated that' commercially prepared powdered sugars are satisfactory for incorporation in the peanut butter. Y

The final product comprising-peanut butter having incorporatedtherein finely powdered sugar possesses the appearance of ordinary peanut butter and is still in its paste form.

In the manufacture of my new product, any suitable typeof grinder may 1e used, for example. the Lambert or Burns machine. These machines are equipped with an automatic salt feeder, which l'cedsmlt to the peanuts, as they are ground. Advantage may be taken of this construction to mix the pewdered sugar with the salt and feed this mixture into the peanuts as they are ground. However. it is not necessalyto'mix the powdered sugar with the pcanut butter, as above described. The powdered sugar may be mixed with the peanut butter by any suitable mixer or kneader, it only being essential that powdered sugar be uniformly mixed throughoutthe peanut-butter. I

In general, it may be stated thatthe-finer the eanutbuttcr is ground, the greater must be he amount of powdered sugar added to produce the same results. I have also found that the heavier the roast, the greater the amount of powdered sugar, necessary to produce the same results. The finely powdered sugar may be in the form of fondant, which is specially pre 'iared finely grained sugar. Fondant may 'e prepared by any of the valions methods well known to those skilled in the art. I 1

In the claims the expressiona powdered sugar is intended toinclude any powdered sugar, such as sucrose, dextrose, maltose, levulose, lactose and their equivalents, which will reduce the tendency of peanut butter to stick to the moutlu This expression is also intended to include mixtures of sugars, which will function. to reduce the tendency of the peanut butter to stick to the mouth.

The above example is illustrative of one form of my invention in which a peanut butter is produced having incorporated therein finely divided sugar as a clogging reducing agent. A number of other agents may advantageously be used to reduce clogging.

l have discovered that various fruit and vegetable juices after they are dried and fine- 1y powdered are etl'ective in reducing the clogging property of peanut butter. For example, orange juice, .pear juice, grape juice, apple juice, beet juice, and cane juice Work very 'well. k

Dextrins such as amylo-dextrin, erythro dcxtrin andachroo-dextrin may be used. As the starch molecule is broken down, the above-mentioned starches are formed, achroodextrin being the last dextrin before inver-' sion to sugars. Proteins such as gelatine, al-

bumen and their related compounds may be tinely ground and used.

The following salts in finely divided form have been used for reducing the clogging properties of peanut butter, sodium, potassium and ammonium salts of acids such as the chlorides, sulfates, tartrates, citrates, lactates, acetates, malates, and oxalates. Magnesium salts for example, magnesium sulfate, chloride or acetate, are suitable. Various other salts, not specifically mentioned, may he used. Some of these salts, all of which are crystalline under ordinary conditions. are more ctl'cctive than --otlieis. As previously:inentioned, the ability toreduce clogging is a function of their solubility. The greater the solubility, the greater the capacity to reduce clogging. For example. sodium acetate is ordinarily very soluble and. in its finely divided form, where it presents a large area or surface. whereby it can quickly go into solution in the saliva, it has a high capacity for reducing clogging. On the other hand, sodium oxalate is only slightly soluble and therefore, it has a minimmu effect in reducing the clogging properties.

In the example showing'the use of sugar, I have set forth the use. of certain percentages. In general, it. may he stated that the quantity of the clogging reducing agent it is necessary to use is a functionof and depends upon its solubilit The greater the solubility of the agent, tic less there is required. With a. very soluble salt, such as sodium acetate, 9. distinct-reduction in the clogging properties properties of the peanut butter so etl'cctivcly as the very soluble salts. \Vith very soluble salts satisfactory results are attained by using a quantity less than 30%. By satisfactory it is meant practical elimination of clogging. However, I desire. to point out that in some cases it isnot. desired to coilipletely eliminate. the clogging.

Some of the agents mentioned above in addition to reducing the clogging properties of the peanut butter, also perform other functions. For exan'iple, magnesium sulfate,

when present in the peanut butter confers laxative properties upon the composition. As far as I am aware, I am the first to produce a peanut butter which is pleasing to take internally and additionally possessing a 1axa' tive property.

Further, when fruit juices inthe powdered stateare incorporated in the peanut butter, they improve the medicinal value of the pea nut butter as the composition has a high vitamine content.

My invention is not limited to the addition of only one clogging reducing agent. The latter may consist of-a plurality of substances. For example-an organic agent may be combined with an inorganic agent. Sodium acetateinay be combined with powdered fruitjuices such as orange juice, grape jui and pear juice. 'lwo organic agents used as powdered sugar and powdered fruit juices may be ii1i -oi'poi'ated in the peanut hutter or two inorganic agents may he added.

In general. the quantity of clogging reducing agent which it is necessary to add to the peanut butter will vary. In the case of very soluble compounds, such as sodium. acetate, sodium lactate. dextrose and other soluble salts. a distinct improvement is noticed when I; to 5?}, is added. A very material improvementoccurs with the addition of Sto 1;,5 and practicalelimination is effected with to These figures are merely illustrative and are not to be taken as limitations'upon the percentages of the clogging reducing agent which is added to the peanut butter.

My experiments indicate that the percentage of cloggingreducmg agent which 18 added to the peanut butter will var Y according to whether the peanuts have been given a light roast. or heavy roast. Further, the tine 'uess to which the peanuts are ground will have some influence upon theamount of clogging reduclng agent which it is necessary to add. Ditl'ereut kinds of peanuts and different grades of peanuts also have minor influence on the percentage of clogging reducing agent which itis necessary to have.

The present application is a continuation in part of applicauts application, Serial No. It! .314, tiled August 24, 1926.

' What I claim is:

1. Peanut butter having substantially uniformly distributed therein a soluble clogging reducing agent in finely powdered form presenting a large area. whereby it is adapted to be. rapidly dissolved by the saliva.

2. Peanut butter having substantially uniformly distributed therein an organic clogging reducing agent in finely powdered form presenting a large area whereby it is adapted to be rapidly dissolved by the saliva.

3. A peanut. butter having substantially uniformly distributed therein a powdered sugar to reduce the clogging properties of the peanut butter. p

4. Peanut butter having substantially uniformly distributed therein powdered dextrose to reduce the clogging properties of the peanut butter. j I

5. Peanut huttcr having substantially uniformly distributed therein 5% to of powdered dextrose. to reduce the clogging properties of the peanut butter.

(3. The process ofproducing a food product comprising grinding peanuts and substantially uniformly distributing therein during the grinding,- a mixture of salt, and a powdered sugar whereby the tendency of the peanut butter to stick to the month is re- 7 dueed.

7. The process of producing a food product comprising grinding peanuts and substantially uniformly distributing therein salt and a powdered sugar whereby the tendency of the peanut butter to stick to the mouth is reduce Y In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. DONALD W. HOWE. 

